Woman, 31, Arrested For Posing As 15-Year-Old High School Student

Charity Johnson, 31 was arrested for posing as a 15-year-old Texas high school sophomore for nearly an entire year. The jig was up after Johnson’s adoptive family grew suspicious of her identity, according to KLTV.

Johnson, who had attended New Life Christian School in Longview since October, used the alias Charite Stevens and claimed that both of her biological parents were deceased.

Johnson also claimed that her biological father had abused her prior to his death.

Tamica Lincoln, a woman who was friendly with the staffers at the high school, somehow got wind of Johnson’s plight and opened her family’s home to her. The generous caregiver, who eventually became Johnson’s guardian last March, also helped the alleged teen enroll in a high school program. Johnson told KLTV, “I sympathized with her and invited her into my home. I took her in as a child, did her hair, got her clothes and shoes.”

As time progressed, however, the 5-foot tall, 300-pound Johnson reportedly began to bring suspicion to herself. Lincoln slowly came to the realization that perhaps the alleged teen girl was not who she portrayed herself to be, so she contacted the authorities.

When police investigators delved into Johnson’s background, they discovered the fact that she was not a teen but an adult. Officers also uncovered the fact that Johnson was using a fake name and had also set up a bogus Facebook page.

Many children and teachers at the high school feel betrayed by Johnson’s sham and no one knows why the woman went to such extremes. Johnson even has a best friend in school who also could not come to grips with her buddy’s deceit.

Johnson is now behind bars and is awaiting arraignment on several charges, including giving false information.